Pinchas Zukerman, music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, said in a radio interview that the NAC needs a new concert hall in downtown Ottawa, as the current location is too small, reports CBC News.

He told the CBC that he envisions a venue with three halls of 2,000, 1,200, and and 500 seats, as well as educational facilities. He has proposed that the new hall be built on a site, currently occupied by a federal building, across the street from the NAC.

NAC spokeswoman Jayne Watson told PlaybillArts that while Zukerman strongly believes the nation's capital needs a purpos- built concert hall, "plans are very preliminary and [the hall] might be 25 years away. We don't have any architectural drawings or plans yet. Part of our responsibility as an organization is to think long-term and assess our needs, so we have discussed on an informal basis what such a hall might look like. It would encompass Zukerman's vision for teaching and education."

Watson said it was too early to speculate about funding, but said that money would likely come from a combination of private and public funds.

Construction of a smaller, 925-seat hall is expected to begin this fall near Zukerman's proposed site.